DONNA Harper started working for Bradford Council in the 1980s, as a training co-ordinator for the community programme project, and was also an events co-ordinator for the Bradford City Fire Disaster Appeal in 1985.

She ran a training and development service for schools, children’s centres, community and faith centres, and has also run projects including safety training in schools, employment skills and work placement training for young people, community safety tutor training in partnership with the Suzy Lamplugh Trust, neighbourhood safety teams, and Creative Threads, a community engagement art project in Bradford.

As a safeguarding families tutor, she works with Muslim communities in the district. Here, Donna considers the impact of last week’s terrorist attack in Manchester on community relations, and urges Bradfordians to stand together against extremism.

“Nearly a year ago Tomas Mair brought terror to Batley. The cowardly murderer of Jo Cox did not represent in any way white Yorkshire men; he was a deluded man and after reading the words of right wing extremists, made the decision to murder a defenceless woman.

"We must not be led by prejudice and discrimination into blaming all Muslims for the action of the man who carried out last week’s terror attacks in Manchester, or be manipulated by terrorist organisations who want us to think the voices in the head of this man were anything other than his terrorist groomers, encouraging him to carry out this mass murder.

"The best action those who are not Muslim can take to stand against terrorism is to recognise and understand that our Muslim friends and neighbours are as horrified as everyone else. Muslim communities do not condone the actions of the cowards who carry out these evil, cowardly actions that bring their religion into disrepute.

"This man targeted children and parents to create anger so communities will turn on Muslim neighbours, creating hatred and distrust. In our rage at what we have seen on TV and in the media, we cannot be led by extremists to attack our neighbours with prejudice and discrimination. This helps no one but the extremists, who despise multicultural communities that embrace cultural differences.

"When the IRA bombed the UK, the country didn’t turn to Catholic neighbours for answers, explanations or apologies.

"It’s not fair to expect Muslim people to explain why these atrocities take place. They are as shocked and horrified as the rest of the world.

"What path took this man into the lair of these extreme terrorist groomers? Why did he feel so isolated from family and friends that he felt an act of murder was preferable to going home to bed? If we understand the answer to some of these questions we might find a way to prevent further acts of terror.

"As a generic trainer and safeguarding families tutor, I have worked closely with Muslim women and families and over the past decade. The number one concern for Muslim mums, dads and family carers has been the request for safeguarding guidance - with a strong emphasis on providing parents with the knowledge to understand and recognise signs and behaviour that could mean their children and young adults are being groomed, manipulated, bullied or abused online and outside the family home.

"If parents have any fears for their child’s safety at school or in an education, faith or leisure centre, all such organisations by law have a named safeguarding children and young adults person. I would urge them to find out who that person is and go to them to share any concerns.

"Participants on safeguarding courses also worry that their families may be targeted by racism and discrimination when the media link terrorists’ action to their religion, and that people who don’t understand their faith might want to harm their families as retribution.

"Those of us who have spent our life living and working in Bradford have worked side by side in offices, mills and factories with people from all over the world.

"I have shed tears with people of all faiths and communities, we all feel shocked and horrified by reports from Manchester. We all want to try somehow to make it better for those families who have lost loved ones, are injured and suffering.

"What gives me some hope are the words of Jo Cox that are very pertinent to my multicultural home town of Bradford: ‘We are far more united in things that we have in common with each other, than things that try to divide us’.”